The cafe was a long time coming for Johnson, 40, of Lincoln, whose skills in the kitchen date back to her childhood. "I've always loved to cook," she said this week.

"My dad had a food cart when I was a kid, selling hot dogs and tripe and all kinds of things, so I used to help out with that [and] I've been cooking with my mom and my step-mom since I was just a little thing."

After eight successful years in the catering business, Johnson decided it was time to open a brick and mortar location with a menu of specialties not often found in the area, including pizza puffs (a fried, flaky pastry filled with cheese, sauce and meat), nachos and fried fish platters.

"I had to put myself out there and really see what I could do- focus on something that makes me happy and brings something good to the community," she said.

Heart & Soul opened its doors on May 25 and became a family business with the addition of Johnson's 24-year-old daughter, Shay, who greets customers, takes orders and helps out in the kitchen.

“It’s definitely nice to see her dream, like, take off and the support that we get from the community,” Shay Johnson said.

Everything on the menu is made to order. Each day, Johnson mixes up a fresh batch of her signature hot and mild sauces- a personal touch with rave reviews from a growing list of cafe regulars. "People can't get enough of that stuff," she said with a laugh.

The entrepreneur and her family moved to Lincoln 15 years ago from Chicago's south side because she wanted her kids to grow up in a quiet and safe community.

"It was getting to be too crazy up there," she said, shaking her head. "We never stopped missing the food though and I always wished I could open a place like this- a place like the ones we used to stop in real quick and get some chicken from...You couldn't get a pizza puff down here when we moved and that was the one thing my girls probably wanted the most; that's what they always ordered."

With a cafe in mind, Johnson saved for several years, found an investor in her cousin, Phillip Manzie, and set her sights on creating exactly the kind of restaurant she and her family craved- one that brings the flavors of the Windy City home to Lincoln.

Johnson, who is also pursuing a degree in business at Lincoln Christian University, said at the end of the day, it's about one thing, "food made with love."

"It's hard right now to go out to a restaurant and feed your family on budget," she said.

"That's why my prices are low, I wanted everyone to be able to have good food- homemade food- hand smashed burgers like your mom used to make and not have to worry about the cost."

Lincolnites Linda Baker and Sandra Graber stopped by Heart & Soul for lunch on Tuesday. They ordered hamburgers with fries and ate in the shade in the cafe's outdoor seating area.

"I'd heard a lot about her opening up and I'd been wanting to get here and give it a try," Baker said. "It was wonderful- very good- just as good as everyone's been saying on Facebook."

Graber added, "It was one of the best [burgers] I've ever had, especially around here."

Baker said they were excited to come back, "branch out" and try some of the other menu items.

"We'll definitely be coming back."

To see the full menu and updates about the cafe, visit the Heart & Soul Cafe/Catering page on Facebook. The restaurant is open from 12-7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday in the strip mall across Woodlawn Road from R.P. Lumber. For more information or to place an order by phone, for pick-up or delivery (when available), call (217) 605-8125.

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